Published: Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 06:48 PM.

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Rusted tin, faded plywood covers and leaning cinderblocks support an aging barn as you drive down the North Carolina Scenic Byway on Sandy Foundation Road. For drivers seeking Lenoir County’s picturesque route, the area is 9.7 miles away from downtown Kinston off U.S. 258 South.

As one of the state’s 51 designated scenic byways, the rural atmosphere presents glimpses of nature’s untouched development and pulchritude. Cornfields, wild flowers and Southwest Creek reflect a quieter setting to the frequent traffic lights and busy motorists in the city.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation website says: “Byways are carefully selected to portray the diverse beauty and culture of the Tar Heel state and provide travelers with safe and interesting alternate travel routes.”

The entire length of the Blue-Gray Scenic Byway is 82 miles, stretching through Jones, Lenoir, Johnston and Wayne counties. The blue-gray name was chosen to recognize the history of Eastern North Carolina’s role in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.

According to the www.ncdot.gov/~scenic, the land to the south between Deep Run and this point is part of the upland swamps of the Bearwell Pocosin. It’s estimated to take about two hours to travel the entire length of the byway. To venture in this direction, look for one of the large white signs with green and blue colored mountains and waves that frame the words, “NC Scenic Byway.”

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Rusted tin, faded plywood covers and leaning cinderblocks support an aging barn as you drive down the North Carolina Scenic Byway on Sandy Foundation Road. For drivers seeking Lenoir County’s picturesque route, the area is 9.7 miles away from downtown Kinston off U.S. 258 South.

As one of the state’s 51 designated scenic byways, the rural atmosphere presents glimpses of nature’s untouched development and pulchritude. Cornfields, wild flowers and Southwest Creek reflect a quieter setting to the frequent traffic lights and busy motorists in the city.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation website says: “Byways are carefully selected to portray the diverse beauty and culture of the Tar Heel state and provide travelers with safe and interesting alternate travel routes.”

The entire length of the Blue-Gray Scenic Byway is 82 miles, stretching through Jones, Lenoir, Johnston and Wayne counties. The blue-gray name was chosen to recognize the history of Eastern North Carolina’s role in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.

According to the www.ncdot.gov/~scenic, the land to the south between Deep Run and this point is part of the upland swamps of the Bearwell Pocosin. It’s estimated to take about two hours to travel the entire length of the byway. To venture in this direction, look for one of the large white signs with green and blue colored mountains and waves that frame the words, “NC Scenic Byway.”